Beverage refrigerator and dispenser



Feb. 22, 1944.

c. E. QUINN 2,342,221" BEVERAGE REFRIGERATOR AND DISPENSER Filed Oct. 20, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 1-'- i t .INVENTOR. I iQuh-m 5 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 c. E. QUINN BEVERAGE REFRIGERATOR AND DISPENSER 'F iled Oct. 20, 1942 Feb. 22, 1944.

INVENTOR. Clara Quinn BY G LA, v An a.

through the connection 3|.

into the As appears clearly from Figure 2 the bottom of tank 2| is provided with beverage supply connection 32 terminating in any suitable form of valve or tap 33.

In use the container I5 is charged with a suitable quantity of solid carbon dioxide. The casing is filled with water so as to submerge cooling coils 22 and the tank 20 is filled to the desired level with a beverage such as orange juice. The secondary refrigerant circulating system domprises the space between the tank i5 and shell I8 and the cooling coil 22. The secondary refrigerant absorbs heat by conduction which heat does the work in converting the solid carbon dioxide to gaseous carbon dioxide. The secondary refrigerant circulates by thermosiphonic action by moving into the bottom of the cooling coil 22 from the connection 23 andworking upwardly through the coil absorbing heat by conduction from the water in which it is immersed. The water, of course, in turn absorbs heat by conduction from the body of the beverage in tank 2|. The warmed secondary refrigerant returns through the connection 24 and this circulation continues The gas generated by the sublimation of the solid carbon dioxide escapes from tank I! through the connection 25 to valve 21. This valve may be of any suitable construction and is a type which may be adjusted to discharge the desired portion of the gaseous carbon dioxide to the atmosphere through the exhaust connect-ion 3| and the remaining desired portion through pipe 28 bottom of tank 2| through orifice 3D.

The carbon dioxide gas entering through oriiice30 discharges into the bottom of the beverage keeping it in a state of constant agitation so that the pulp-and other solid material therein is held in suspension. This continual motion of the beverage facilitates the rapid cooling thereof and the dispersion of the solid carbon dioxide through the beverage body. Since th tank 2| is sealed the pressure of carbon dioxide within the container can be builtup, by proper adjustment of the valve 21 so that at the temperatures to which the dioxide gas can be dissolved in the liquid to carbonate it. If it is not particularly desired to carbonate the beverage, the tank 2| may be provided with any suitable form of relief valve so that the pressure in the tank 2| will not build up to a point where carbonation is effected. For example, as is clear from Figure 3, the sealed tank 2| may be provided with an adjustable valve 34, the outlet of which is connected by a small pipe to some point exterior to the tank 20 or to the casing I0. Thus, in the event that it is only desired to employ the carbon dioxide gas for the purpose of stirring the beverage and keeping the solid matter in suspension, the valves 21 and 34 will be relatively adjusted so that the gas from the sealed container l5 will be bubbled through the beverage in the tank 2| and discharged to the atmosphere through the pipe 35 ata rate which will not super-atmospheric pressure condition within the in a well-known manner.-

build up any important aacaaai tank 2|. 0n the other hand, when it is desired to carbonate the beverage in tank 2|, valve 34 will be closed and valve 21 adjusted so as to develop a carbon dioxide pressure in the tank 2| sumcient to carbonate the beverage at the temperature at which it is being maintained.

A. further result of the introduction of the carbon dioxide gas'into the beverage body is to impartlts preserving ability thereto and to exclude oxygen therefrom, The result is that in the case of beverages which rapidly tend to change their color; taste and food value by oxidizing action, are kept out of contact with oxygen. In the case of orange juice tests have indicated that it retains its flavor and color under these conditions for severalweeks and its valuable vitamin C content is likewise preserved.

From the above description it will be apparent to those skilled in this artthat the particular embodiment of the invention illustrated herein is but one possible form thereof. I do not, therefore, desire to be strictly limited to the disclosures given herein, but rather-to the scope of the accompanying claims.

What I seek to secure by United States Letters 7 Patent is:

adapted 1. In a device of the type described the combination including a heat insulating cabinet forming two compartments opening upwardly, removable covers for said compartments, a tank immersed in water in one of said cabinets, a cooling coil surrounding said tank and immersed in the water, a double wall metallic container mounted in the other of said compartments, and connected to saidcoil, the space between the double wall being filled with a liquid refrigerant, and the space within the double wall container being to have solid carbon dioxide sealed therein, a connection from the solid carbon dioxide space to a port at the bottom of said tank, a valve in said connection having an operating member extending exteriorly of said cabinet and another gas connection from said valve to the atmosphere whereby the quantity of gas delivbeverage is chilled, carbon ered to said tank and discharged to atmosphere may be proportioned as desired.

2. In a device of the type described, the combination including an insulating casing forming at least two compartments, a sealed beverage tank immersed in a fluid in one of said compartments, a double walled sealed carbon dioxide container mounted in the other of said compartments, a cooling coil surrounding said sealed tank and immersed likewise in the fluid and connected to the double walls of said sealed con tainer to provide a closed liquid secondary refrigerant circulating system, a pipe connection from the inner space of said double walled container to the bottom of said sealed tank including a valve, and a valve discharge connection for said sealed tank whereby carbon dioxide may be discharged into' liquid contained in said sealed tank at atmospheric or super-atmospheric pressure.

CLARAE. QUINN. 

